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Chapter Three
James turned to Mayda with a sour look on his face, "Some 'men' and I use the term loosely can't stand to have a woman rank them." James could hardly contain the contempt in his voice as he spoke to her. "He treats her like dirt and she doesn't deserve it. Hell, she works twice as hard as he does and all that she gets is treated poorly."
Harry lightly nudged James in the arm for cursing causing James to blush lightly and mutter an apology.
For a moment Harry completely forgot about being drenched with a water bomb.
James lightly rubbed at a welt that was starting to form on his jaw from where Pitman had struck him.
"Miss Kristen, perhaps we should take Mister Moody to the doctor," Mayda said.
"I'm fine," James insisted.
"Not with that lump on your face you're not. I don't think anythin's broken but that was quite a punch you got. At least put some ice on it to keep the swellin' down."
Harry looked from James to Kristen. "You're the superior officer," Harry said. "It should be your responsibility to take him to the doctor. Now if you'll excuse me I need to find out who dropped that water bomb on me…"
That task wasn't too hard to finish. Mayda was laughing so hard, Harry knew it was her. "Hey, I thought you were on my side of this." "I was. You just happened to be in the way." Mayda laughed. Her laugh really was contagious, and Harry, cold as he was, also laughed. Meanwhile, Kristen was dragging James down to the doctor. "Why? I'm fine, Kristen! I'm fine, really!" "That welt on your face isn't, I'm telling ya that!" she exclaimed as they reached the Medical Room. She rapped on the door sharply, and the Physician opened it. "Yes Miss?" he questioned. "Fight. If you could be quick about that welt I'd sure appreciate it! We're on shift next!" she exclaimed, pushing Mr. Moody forward. The Doctor took him in, and Kristen stood outside waiting. In about five minutes, Mr. Moody was back and they returned to the bridge.
"See if I rescue you again next time those knuckleheads decide to drop a water bomb on you," Harry announced.
Mayda continued to giggle as he spoke.
"Oooo, trouble in paradise?" James cracked. Even the chunk of wrapped up ice he was forced to hold up to his head couldn't put a damper on his sense of humor.
Harry made a face at James who only smiled back at him.
"Aren't you off duty right now? Aren't you going to escort the fair Miss Mayda around Titanic?"
"At least I haven't gotten lost trying to find the officer's mess!"
"Hey, I only got lost once Mister Lowe!"
"Boys!" Mayda interrupted.
"I shall see you tonight for our dinner Mister Moody before our shift," Harry tipped his hat to Kristen. "Miss Kristen."
Spinning on his heel he gently took Mayda's arm escorting her off the bridge. Once the door behind them shut a voice spoke up, "I do believe he's falling in love."
James and Kristen turned to find Charles smiling at them. "I know that look," Charles continued. "But when did he meet the fair lady and when did he fall for her?"
"Today and today," James responded.
"My, he moves quick." Charles tugged at his coat, "What is this I hear about a fight on the bridge?"
"Well, Pitman once again. James here taught him a little lesson!" Kristen replied. Lights chuckled. "You men need to learn to settle down." he said, still laughing. "You think I haven't tried to tell them that?" Kristen exclaimed. "Who says we should follow?" "Yes! Let's go!" Kristen replied. James offered his arm, and then ran down to the Deck to catch up with Harry and Mayda. "Young love……oh well, I'll take their shift I guess." Lights smiled as he went off to tend to things. James and Kristen walked along the deck, talking, laughing, and keeping an eye on Harry and Mayda. They strolled around the usual places, and much to James and Kristen's surprise, he took her into the Officer's Mess Hall. "Hmm……suspicious." "Indeed, let's go check it out!" James exclaimed, while they walked up to the door. They were both hesitant to open it, but they reached for the knob at the same time, and their hands touched briefly. "Sorry, allow me." James said quickly, opening the door.
Lights leaned against the wheel with a soft smile on his face as his mind drifted back to Josephine Phillips. Ah, sweet Josie…
This time he was not going to let her father intervene or threaten him. This time he was not going to let her get away.
Mayda chuckled looking up at the ceiling and then the simple walls, "This isn't much different than our mess hall."
Harry smiled at that, "I suppose not. After all, we are but glorified workers."
"I wouldn't exactly say that."
"Then what would you say?"
Harry paused as he pursed his lips, deep in thought, "I can't think of anything to say, you win."
He began to shrug his coat off, "I'll need to get a new coat for my shift, I'm still damp from the water bomb that you dropped on me."
"It's not my fault that you were in the way."
Harry leaned in close to Mayda with a little smile on his face, "Then whose fault is it?"
Not missing a beat Mayda replied with, "Yours for being in the way."
"So I rescue you from being hit by a water bomb and this is the thanks I get?" Harry's face was serious though his eyes were twinkling with contained laughter.
James looked to Kristen as he covered his mouth to keep from laughing. He hadn't met a woman who could verbally spar so well with Harry since Kristen but it wasn't the same when they verbally sparred.
"When does your shift start, Miss Mayda?" Harold asked.
"Not until tonight," Mayda answered.
"Mine starts this evening too. Things are getting juggled a little as we're all getting settled. The maiden voyage of a ship does that to people."
Mayda straightened to her full height as she watched Harold toss his coat over a chair in an effort to get it to dry quicker.
"I need to remind those knuckleheads Fleet and Lee not to use sea water. Especially sea water that's so cold!"
"I should thank you for rescuing me from that one water bomb," Mayda said with a shy smile.
Harold returned it as he approached her, "But after you hitting me with that water bomb I might not rescue you next time." He reached his ship callused hands out for her smooth hand and kissed the back of it.
"Then maybe I should consider giving Mister Fleet and Mister Lee more lessons in how to throw the water bombs."
"You wouldn't dare!" It took Harold everything he had to keep from smiling at those words. The idea of those two becoming expert marksmen was too funny of a mental image. Heaven help them all if those two learned how to aim!
"Oh, try me," Mayda shot back.
As hard as they tried to be quiet, and be somewhat decent, James and Kristen burst out into laughter. "What's so funny, then, Mr. Moody?" Mayda questioned, glancing at the young Officer. Kristen shot out a hand, and hit him on the shoulder. "Hey! I'm fragile!" "Hey! That's MY line!" Harry shot back. "Boys!" Kristen shouted. They both looked at her, and to Mayda, it was evident in the respect they showed for her. "Yes?" "Stop fighting! Harold, the Captain wanted to speak with you!" "Yes, m'am." he sighed, walking to wherever the Captain was. "Mr. Moody?" "Miss Petronsky?" "Watch your mouth, and go record." she told him, pointing to the door. After both men had gone, she turned to Mayda. "There's still an Officer I'd like you to meet." The stewardess nodded eagerly, and Kristen led her up to the bridge. "Lights!" The man at the wheel turned around, and smiled as he saw the Chief Officer approach him. "I know you two have seen each other, but have not been formally introduced, and I think it would be beneficial, judging her interactions with Mr. Lowe, she will be up here quite often." Mayda looked at Kristen strangely, but Lights got her message. "Second Officer Charles Lightoller, Charles, Lights, whatever you want to call me." he joked. "Mayda O'Brian. Don't really have a nickname." "Well, I'm sure Harry will change that soon enough." "Mayda, I'm sorry, but I must go, talk with Lights for awhile." Kristen suggested, walking away. As she walked, Mayda began to talk. "I'm worried about her." "Why on Earth would you be worried about Kristen?" Lights asked, with a bit of a laugh.
"Bein' the only woman officer aboard a ship, that's quite a weight on her shoulders," Mayda admitted.
"For the most part she manages quite nicely," Lights responded.
"What's SHE doing here?!" Pitman's voice demanded.